Kolste bill targets student debt

MADISON—Rep. Debra Kolste, D-Janesville, on Wednesday unveiled a bill designed to reduce what she called “the crippling burden of student debt in Wisconsin.''

Kolste is a lead author of the bill along with Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, and Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay.

“Under current law, student debt can't be refinanced,'' Kolste said. “That makes it different from credit card debt, auto loans or any other kind of consumer debt. Why are students singled out for special, unfair treatment?''

The Higher Ed, Lower Debt Bill would allow student debt to be refinanced and directs the Higher Education Aids Board to develop a program to help refinance student loans.

The bill also:

-- Creates a state tax deduction for payments on student loans and expands the income tax deduction for higher education tuition expenses.

-- Creates at truth-in-student-loan transparency program ensuring that students and parents have easy-to-understand loan information and loan counseling.